Turkish Neurosurgery 2013 , Vol 23 , Num 1
Concomitant Tubercular and Fungal Cerebellar Abscess in an Immunocompromised Girl
Hakan SIMSEK1, Murat KUTLAY1, Ahmet COLAK1, Aptullah HAHOLU2, Hatice KAYA3, Mustafa OZYURT4, Mehmet Nusret DEMIRCAN1
1GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
2GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Pathology, Istanbul, Turkey
3Bilkent Rehabilitation Center, Department of Pulmonology, Ankara, Turkey
4GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.3718-10.1 Concomitant tubercular and fungal cerebellar abscess is rare and we report the first concomitant recurrent multi-lobulated tubercular and fungal cerebellar abscess in an immunocompromised girl with Histiocytosis-X. She presented with cerebellar abscess history diagnosed during the ongoing treatment for tuberculous meningitis. The abscess was drained. Upon the detection of cerebellar abscess recurrence and pulmonary infection, she was referred to our clinic five weeks after the first surgical intervention. Patient was conscious, co-operating but confused. She had severe cachexia, stiff neck and fever. Fundus examination showed bilateral papilledema. Cranial MR images revealed multiple lobulated lesions. Suboccipital craniectomy was performed and abscess was evacuated in toto. Lesion was multi-lobulated. Thick, yellow-gray purulent material was drained. Histopathological examinations yielded Langhans giant cells,budding and branching fungal structures. Fungal infection was identified. We emphasize that posterior decompression and total resection should be considered first in the management of lesions with mass effect in the posterior fossa. Also the presence of concomitant fatal fungal abscess highlights that although the clinic and former diagnoses of the patient may direct the clinician to a certain pathogen, unusual resistant organisms should not be. Keywords : Cerebellar, Tuberculous abscess, Paecilomyces, Concomitant
Corresponding author : Hakan Sımsek, drhakansimsek@gmail.com